Guy wire guard



May 21, 1935. H. P. SEELYE GUY WIRE GUARD Filed April 11, 1952 flaw-ard'z seelfe wow-W Patented May 2 1, 1935 UNITED STATES GUY WIRE GUARD 7 Howard P. Seelye, Royal Oak, Mich. Application April 11, 1932, Serial No. 604,566

1 Claim.

' The invention relates to guards used for the protection of guy wires and particularly that portion which is near the ground. The chief purpose of such a guard is to render the guy or stay wire more visible and to offer a larger surface than that of the wire itself in case of contact, thereby reducing the likelihood of injury to person, animal or object making the contact. The guard also is useful in protecting the guy wire at least to some extent in case it is struck by a vehicle or other object.

Heretofore guy wire guards or protectors have usually been formed of a continuous relatively inflexible member formed of either wood or metal. With such constructions in case the guard is hit by a vehicle or other object it isgenerally knocked out of shape and thereafter has an unsightly appearance. To avoid this objection I have devised a construction of guard formed of a series of relatively short units engaged with the wire which in case the guard is struck will permit of flexing of the cable to cushion the blow. Also, the injury if any will be confined to the point of contact instead of a deforming of the whole structure My invention therefore consists in the novel construction of such a guard as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a portion of a guy wire showing the manner of engaging my improved guard therewith;

Figure 2 is'an enlarged elevation of the guard as applied to the guy; s

Figure 3 is an end elevation thereof;

Figure 4 is a cross section;

Figure 5 is an elevation similar to Figure 1 showing a series of units engaged with a guy wire to form a guard;

Figure 6 shows a modification.

As shown in Figures 1 and 5, A is an inclined guy wire which at its lower end is attached to an anchor B in any suitable manner, such as by a clamp C. As above stated, my improved guard broadly described consists of a series of short sections having a diameter considerably greater than that of the guy wire. and sleeved upon this wire to render the same more visible. Preferably these units are formed as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4 of blocks of wood D preferably round in cross section and oval in longitudinal section. Each block has a radially and longitudinally extending slot E of suflicient width to receive the guy and of a depth to arrange the guy concentrio with the axis of the block. To retain the block in this position nails or pins F are passed transversely therethrough as shown in Figures 2 and 3. Figure 6 shows an alternative construction in 5 which the blocks are formed in grooved half sections D, D which are then secured by nails or other fasteners G. Any other means of securing the sections to each other may be used as a substitute for that shown.

To place the guard upon the guy wire the blocks D are successively engaged therewith and fastened by the nails F and then permitted to slide down by gravity to form a continuous series from the anchor upward to the desired height. 15 On account of the oval shape the guard presents a smooth exterior which will do little injury to anything contacting therewith. Also in case of a severe blow which may result in splitting or otherwise destroying the unit directly contacted, the units higher up in the serieswill automatically slide down to fill the gap. The outer surface of the guard may be painted to render it more visible.

The construction as described has many advantages over guards which have heretofore been used, among which are:

First, low cost of manufacture;

Second, a more ornamental appearance;

Third, greater visibility on account of the scalloped contour and the same visibility in all directions;

Fourth, smooth exterior;

, Fifth, is easily attached;

Sixth, can be made of cheap non-corrodible material such as wood;

Seventh, is flexible, and

Eighth, will automatically fill a gap'produced by a broken unit.

What I claim as my invention is:

In combination, an inclined guy wire, anchorage means for the lower end of said guy wire, and a guard for said guy wire, said guard having a laterally opening open-ended slot and comprising a series of elongated blocks arranged in non-overlapping abutting engagement upon and frictionally engaging said wire, said blocks being so constructed and arranged that upon being struck they will permit flexing of the guy wire to cushion 5 the blow.

HOWARD P. SEELYE. 

